HC drops Asif Mahmud’s writ against ACC from cause list

The High Court on Wednesday dropped from its daily cause list a writ petition filed by National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson and former interim government adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain challenging the legality of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) press briefings on allegations of corruption and money laundering against him.

A bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice SK Tahsin Ali passed the order after taking up the petition for preliminary hearing.

Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa, counsel for Asif Mahmud, told reporters that several cases had been dropped from the cause list as it was the last working day of the vacation bench, but none had been dismissed. He said the petition would be moved before a regular High Court bench after the Supreme Court reopens.

Earlier, Deputy Attorney General Mohammad Imam Hossain Tareq opposed the writ, arguing that it was not maintainable as it challenged an ACC press briefing.

The Appellate Division and High Court Division of the Supreme Court went on annual vacation on 16 September and are scheduled to reopen on 25 October.

Asif Mahmud filed the writ petition on Tuesday, seeking an HC directive preventing the ACC from holding further press briefings on pending inquiries or investigations. The petition challenged statements made at ACC press briefings on 2 and 13 September, when the commission said it had found preliminary evidence in its investigation into allegations against him.